Tricia Sisson's story
Monday, June 1, 2009
By: Tricia Sisson

In 2004, my dermatologist discovered a spot beside my left ear.

In 2004, my dermatologist discovered a spot beside my left ear. He told me he was going to do a biopsy and call me in a few days with the results. It turned out it was a melanoma skin cancer.

Of course I was shocked. My theatre professor in University, Dr. Kerry White, had died of this type of cancer only a few years before. A few days later, I was in the hospital having the spot removed and a few hours later, I began a new job teaching. My students kept asking me what the giant gauze and tape were for. When I told them I had had a cancerous spot removed, they all began to tell me about their stories. It was then that I decided that I wanted to help to find a cure.

Happily, at all of my checkups so far, the cancer hasn't returned, but I go twice a year for a full body exam. My paternal grandmother and aunt are both breast cancer survivors and my husband's mother past at the age of 52 and my uncle had just passed his 40th birthday.

Since 2004, I had moved several times and have either been pregnant or unable to walk for other personal reasons.
I will be writing the names of friends or family members touched by this disease on my shirt as I walk for myself and other survivors and in memory of loved ones.